We have all seen powerful storms barreling through all parts of New England, bringing heavy rains, high winds, and flooding. That means more power outages, and these seem to be coming through more frequently and throughout the entire year. Add to that an ever-increasing strain on our electrical grid in general, and it’s making more people consider what to do for backup power. This all comes at a time when our lives are becoming even more dependent on the electric grid. Homes are increasingly using electric heat pumps for heating and cooling, induction ranges, EV car chargers, and we also are working from home more, which requires power and internet. Household electrical needs have never been higher.
So, what if the power goes out? For now, backup power typically takes two forms: a fuel-powered backup generator or a battery backup. Generators have been the norm for many years and are well established. True battery backup on a scale that allows you to power some or all your home is relatively new. Here, a look at the pros and cons of both.
Backup generators
As mentioned, these have been around for some time, and there are many brands out there to choose from.
The pros:
— The initial cost for a backup generator will be less than a quality battery backup system since the products are more established and have been manufactured to scale for some time.
— A generator should give you more than enough power to get you through the outage. The vast majority are fueled by natural gas from your home’s gas utility or a propane tank.
The cons
— Although the initial cost of installation is cheaper, in the long run, it could cost you more with maintenance and fuel costs. There are many variables: How often you lose power and for how long it is out in an average year. Some areas are much more prone than others to losing power.
— The installation and space is pretty invasive. The generator itself takes up a fair amount of room on your property, and it needs to be placed in an area away from windows and doors. If you use natural gas, you will need to connect the gas from your basement and trench the gas line over to the generator. If you use propane, you will need to find a place to put the propane tank. These present challenges in an urban setting.
— They are loud and emit exhaust. Generators have come a long way in terms of decibel level, but they still will let you know when they are running. Again, this can be more of an issue in a tight urban setting.
Battery backup
This technology is newer and doesn’t have the track record that generators do. There are less electricians out there who are familiar with the mechanics of these, but that is changing.
The pros
— Some utilities charge for electricity using what’s called TOU or time of use. The rates are higher during peak hours and go down at night. Most battery backups use smart technology that can allow them to power a home through the day when rates are higher; then the batteries recharge overnight when the rates are lower. (If you combine solar power with battery backup, you are talking about substantial savings. The combination of solar and smart battery power with a utility that charges on a TOU scale can greatly reduce and quite possibly eliminate paying any peak rates.)
— Battery backup is virtually silent and only takes up wall space.
— Battery backup needs little to no maintenance. Once installed, an occasional check when you have the electrician over is probably all you will need for a very long time. Many systems have software updates, but these are done automatically through a Wi-Fi connection.
The cons
— The up-front costs are more to install a proper battery backup system. Over the long run, it will save money, but there is no escaping the higher investment cost.
— The energy they provide is not limitless like a natural gas-fed generator. Even a propane-fed generator has more capacity than you will ever need for a typical power outage. Most battery backups will only get you nine to 12 hours if you are using them for essentials like the refrigerator, lights, some appliances, and device chargers. Trying to run HVAC systems will quickly drain the battery. This can be offset by adding more battery capacity.
Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to homerepair@globe.com. Questions are subject to editing. Subscribe to the Globe’s free real estate newsletter — our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design — at Boston.com/address-newsletter.